Tag: farming

Urbanization has significantly decreased the amount of land that is available for farming. The great expanses of winding roads, towering department stores, and crammed apartment complexes have spread out so far that there is no longer the same amount of space left over for planting crops. Because of this, most of the people who live in the city don’t have much access to fresh fruits and vegetables outside of a grocery store. So those who can’t afford to regularly shop often just get by with whatever meagre provisions that they can scrape together. But there is a new gardening movement that offers a way to change all this. It is called “urban rooftop gardening.”

Almost 20% of the food made available to consumers is lost through over-eating or waste, a study suggests. It says the world consumes about 10% more food than it needs, while almost 9% is thrown away or left to spoil.

“Irrigation has been used for thousands of years to increase agricultural production and provide protection against drought. Agriculture provides us with many goods, but it also takes away from us. Agriculture is the single largest food provider and also the largest user of global water resources.”

Scroll down to learn how much water is needed to produce food and feed animals as well as how much of that is wasted and what are the challenges in the future of agriculture and farming.

Did you know that since factory farms and slaughterhouses are highly unsanitary, this contributes to 5,000 deaths from food borne illnesses a year in the U.S.? At the same time, sustainable farms produce foods without hazardous chemicals, leading to food with higher levels of antioxidants which can help fight against cancer. Factory farms pollute the air, land, and water with millions of gallons of animal waste.

“We want our food fast, convenient and cheap, but at what cost? As farms have become supersized, our environment suffers and so does the quality of our food. Food for Thought, Food for Life explains the downsides of current agribusiness practices, and also introduces us to farmers, chefs, researchers, educators, and advocates who are providing solutions. The film is both poetic and practical; its powerful examination of the connections between our planet and our well-being is accompanied by specific strategies that protect both. With an eye towards a sustainable and abundant future, it offers inspiration for communities that are ready to make a difference.”